or


[05/03/12 - 08:39 AM]
Wednesday's Broadcast Ratings: "American Idol" Continues Its Reign
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)

nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for wednesday, may 2, 2012)

Here are the highlights of the 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

FOX (16.30 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.6, #1) as usual was the network to beat on Wednesday with another two-hour "American Idol" (16.30 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.6, #1).

Claiming the silver then was CBS (10.12 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.6, #2) with new episodes of "Survivor: One World" (9.21 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.5, #4) - its series low (excluding specials), "Criminal Minds" (11.40 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.0, #3) and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (9.74 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.3, #6) - tied as its series low.

Next up was ABC (7.07 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.4, #3) and its all-original lineup of "The Middle" (6.61 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T8) - its season low, "Suburgatory" (5.80 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T8) - tied as its series low, "Modern Family" (9.95 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.0, #2) - its season low, "Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23" (5.85 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.4, #5) and "Revenge" (7.09 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.1, #7) - tied as its series low.

Meanwhile, NBC (5.20 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #4) offered up a new "Betty White's Off Their Rockers" (5.01 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.3, #12) - its lowest rating to date, a second "Betty White's Off Their Rockers" (4.94 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.4, #11) plus "Rock Center With Brian Williams" (4.19 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.0, #13) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (6.45 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.8, #10).

And finally, an encore of "The L.A. Complex" (0.86 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.3, #15) led into a new "America's Next Top Model" (1.05 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.4, #14) on The CW (0.95 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5). In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Complex" posted a 0.4 rating while "Top Model" delivered a 0.6 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+20.00% - Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23
+12.50% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
+11.11% - Rock Center With Brian Williams
+5.00% - Revenge
0.00% - American Idol
0.00% - Modern Family (vs. 4/18/12)
0.00% - Criminal Minds (vs. 4/11/12)
0.00% - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (vs. 4/11/12)
0.00% - Suburgatory (vs. 4/18/12)
-3.85% - Survivor: One World
-4.76% - The Middle (vs. 4/11/12)
-18.75% - Betty White's Off Their Rockers
-20.00% - America's Next Top Model

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+40.00% - Betty White's Off Their Rockers - 8:30 (vs. Minute to Win It)
+35.48% - Revenge (vs. Happy Endings (10:00)/Happy Endings (10:30))
+30.00% - Betty White's Off Their Rockers - 8:00 (vs. Minute to Win It)
+25.00% - Suburgatory (vs. Better With You)
+9.09% - Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 (vs. Cougar Town)
+5.26% - Modern Family
+4.55% - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (vs. Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior)
0.00% - Rock Center With Brian Williams (vs. Minute to Win It (Repeat))
0.00% - The Middle
-6.25% - Criminal Minds
-15.29% - American Idol (vs. American Idol 10/Breaking In)
-16.67% - Survivor: One World
-28.00% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
-55.56% - America's Next Top Model

In late-night metered market ratings (via NBC's press release):

In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 3.0/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 3.1/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.4/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.5/4.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.7/3; "Late Show," 0.6/3; "Nightline," 1.1/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.6/5 in metered-market households) tied CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.6/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/3).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 1.0/4 in metered-market households and a 0.4/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.


Here are the highlights of the 16 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (5/4/11):

FOX (17.23 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.4, #1) was the network to beat on Wednesday with new episodes of "American Idol" (20.55 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.4, #1) and "Breaking In" (7.25 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T5).

Second place then went to CBS (10.74 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.8, #2) with its mix of "Survivor: Redemption Island" (10.66 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.0, #4), "Criminal Minds" (12.82 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.2, #3) and "Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior" (8.75 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T7).

Next up was ABC (5.86 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.1, #3) with fresh installments of "The Middle" (7.14 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.0, #9), "Better With You" (5.50 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.6, #11), "Modern Family" (9.64 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.8, #2), "Cougar Town" (5.56 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T7), "Happy Endings" (4.00 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.7, #10) and another "Happy Endings" (3.32 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.4, #12).

Meanwhile, NBC (5.03 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.5, #4) offered up a new "Minute to Win It" (3.38 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T13) followed by a repeat of "Minute to Win It" (3.41 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T13) and a new "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (8.31 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T5).

And finally, an encore of "America's Next Top Model" (1.15 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.4, #16) led into a new "America's Next Top Model" (1.86 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.9, #15) on The CW (1.50 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #5).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Minute to Win It (25.00% vs. 4/20/11), The Middle (11.10% vs. 4/20/11), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (8.70% vs. 4/6/11), Better With You (6.70%), Cougar Town (4.80%), Modern Family (2.70% vs. 4/20/11), Survivor: Redemption Island (0.00%), Breaking In (-3.80%), Criminal Minds (-5.90% vs. 4/13/11), American Idol (-7.20%), America's Next Top Model (-10.00%), Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior (-12.00% vs. 4/13/11), Happy Endings (-19.00%).

In late-night metered market ratings (via NBC's press release):

In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 3.0/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 3.1/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.4/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.5/4.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.0/4; "Late Show," 0.8/3; "Nightline," 1.2/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.7/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.6/5 in metered-market households) tied CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.6/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/3 in 18-49) tied "Late Late Show" (0.6/3).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 1.0/4 in metered-market households and a 0.4/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research





  [may 2012]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)





most recent ratings | view all posts
[02/27/26 - 03:00 PM]
"Survivor 50" Premiere Wins the Night Posting CBS' Most-Watched Wednesday Since 2022
Said premiere averaged 5.06 million viewers, peaking with 6.18 million.

[02/26/26 - 02:19 PM]
"Live with Kelly and Mark" Soars to Season High with Best Audience in Over a Year
"Live" has now ranked as the No. 1 talk show in syndication for 157 consecutive weeks across all key measures.

[02/25/26 - 05:44 PM]
ABC Wins Monday Night as "American Idol" Dominates with Best Audience Since Season Premiere
In fact, "American Idol" scored its largest margin of victory ever in Total Viewers over "The Voice" during its nine-season run on ABC.

[02/25/26 - 03:35 PM]
"20/20: The Au Pair, The Affair and Murder" About a Twisted Love Triangle Delivers Best Adult 25-54 Performance in 10 Months and Strongest Delivery in Adults 18-49 in 11 Months
Hitting new season highs for the second straight week, "20/20" improved on the previous week in Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49.

[02/25/26 - 02:46 PM]
ABC News Is No. 1 Broadcast Network for Coverage of the State of the Union, Beating NBC by 1.4 Million and CBS by 1.7 Million
Said coverage ranked No. 1 among the broadcast networks in all key target demos: Total Viewers (4.912 million), Adults 25-54 (1.125 million) and Adults 18-49 (886,000).

[02/24/26 - 01:48 PM]
Nearly 21 Million Viewers Watched NBCUniversal's Coverage of USA-Canada Olympic Men's Gold Medal Hockey Game, Peaking at 26 Million for Game-Winning Goal on NBC & Peacock
The USA-Canada gold-medal game delivered an average live audience of 18.6 million viewers on NBC and Peacock (8:15-11 a.m. ET).

[02/24/26 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Top 10: Week of Feb. 16 - "Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model" Sashays to No. 1 in Top 10
Plus: Season 3 of "The Night Agent" took No. 2 on the English TV list with 8.4 million views.

[02/23/26 - 03:55 PM]
NBCUniversal's Presentation of Milan Cortina Olympics Dominates Media Landscape & Delivers Largest Winter Games Audience Since 2014
Sunday's Closing Ceremony provided a spectacular culmination as more than 215 million Americans (215.6 million through February 17) tuned in across NBCUniversal's platforms for "Legendary February."

[02/23/26 - 12:00 PM]
CBS Series Post Strong Fall Viewership, Topping Broadcast and Streaming Rankings in Live + 35-Day Multiplatform Viewership
The CBS fall lineup scored eight of the top 10 most-watched series among broadcast competition and nine of the top 20 most-watched series among all broadcast and streaming competition for this season's episodes airing through January 4, 2026.

[02/20/26 - 11:08 AM]
"The 'Burbs" Continues Hot Start on Peacock
The series has generated nearly 1 billion viewing minutes on platform since its February 8 launch.

[02/19/26 - 11:50 AM]
ABC Wednesday Comedies Deliver Audience Milestones as Romance Blooms With Valentine's Day Episodes
"Shifting Gears" earned 6.90 million Total Viewers and 0.99 rating among Adults 18-49, after seven days of viewing on ABC, Hulu, Hulu on Disney+ and digital platforms.

[02/17/26 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Top 10: Week of February 9 - "Tyler Perry's Joe's College Road Trip" Takes the Scenic Route to No. 1
Plus: "The Lincoln Lawyer" Season 4 took No. 1 on the English TV list with 9.6 million views.

[02/12/26 - 02:34 PM]
ABC's Thursday Night Dramas Dominate as "9-1-1," "9-1-1: Nashville" and "Grey's Anatomy" Jump to Biggest Multiplatform Audience Since Their Season Premieres
The January 29 episodes of all three series rose to their biggest Total Viewer audience since their season premieres after seven days of viewing on ABC, Hulu, Hulu on Disney+ and digital platforms.

[02/11/26 - 03:30 PM]
ABC News' "Nightline" Ranks No. 1 Across the Board - in Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49
"Nightline" improved on the same week last year by double digits in Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49.

[02/11/26 - 01:46 PM]
"Puppy Bowl XXII" Reaches 15.3 Million Viewers on Sunday, February 8, Delivering Highest Audience in Eight Years
The programming event ranked as the #1 non-sports cable telecast of the day among key adult demos and achieved a 20% year-over-year increase in reach, marking its strongest performance since 2018.